Louis messee



(No Model.) 7

' I L. MBSSER. FRAME FOR POCKET BOOKS.

No. 556,156. P 5 11555 Mar. 10, 1896.

fies. v 1 /04.

ANDREW BERN-AM, PHUTO-UTHOYWASHINEIUNJ C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS MEss'ER, on NEW YoEK, N. Y.

, FRAME FOR POCKET-BOOKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,156, dated March 10, 1896.

Application filed July 23, 1895.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, Louis MESSER, of New York city, New York, have invented an Improved Frame for Pocket-Books and Similar Articles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a frame for pocket-books, satchels, purses and similar articles, and more particularly to the means for limiting the play of the catch.

By my improvement the play of the catch is determined by a looped spring that projects into the hollow of the jaw and engages opposite faces thereof during the extreme positions of the catch.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved frame; Fig. 2, an elevation, partly in section, of jaw a; Fig. 3, a cross-section of the frame on line 3 3, Fig. 2, and showing the catch closed, Fig. 4, a cross-section of jaw a, showing the catch open; Fig. 5, a cross-section of such jaw on line 5 5, Fig. 2; Fig. 6, a detail perspective view of the central part of jaw a; Fig. 7, a similar view showing the position of the spring when the catch is open; Fig. 8, a similar view showing the position of the spring when the catch is closed; Fig. 9, a perspective view of the tubular housing I). Figs. 10, 11, 12, and 13 show the catch d in successive stages of manufacture.

The letters a a represent the two pivotallyconnected U -shaped jaws or frames of a pocket-book, satchel, purse or similar article. Along the upper edge of jaw a there extends a tubular housing 5, that contains a wire spring 0. This housing is attached to the jaw a by means of lugs b or in other manner. The wire spring 0 passes from the housing through the pivoted catch or finger-piece d, and thus constitutes a spring-hinge for such catch. The rear edge of the catch is rolled around the wire spring, Fig. 13, and is provided with a slot cl, through which a loop 0, formed on the wire, is free to pass. This loop enters through a slot a Figs. 6 to 8, into the interior chamber 9 formed between the members ofthe U-shaped jaw a. In forming the slot a the metal of the jaw a is forced out- Serial No. 556,860. (No model.)

ward in front of the slot, so as to form a bulged wall or nose a and a small chamber back of such wall that communicates with the chamber 6. In this way the loop 0, though projecting into the hollow of the jaw, has a sufficient backward and forward play.

When the catch is opened, Figs. 4 and 7, the front of the loop 0' will strike or engage the inner side of the nose a and prevent the catch from being opened beyond the proper angle. When the catch is closed, Figs. 3 and 8, the rear of the loop will strike or engage the rear edge of slot (1 and thus prevent the catch from descending beyond its proper angle. Thus it will be seen that the loop 0 limits the play of the catch in both directions in a most simple and effective manner, so,

that no additional stops whatever are necessary to prevent the catch from being dislocated.

The housing I) may be made single, Fig. 5, or double, Fig. 9, for the sake of embellishment. The catch (1 is made from a flat slotted plate, Fig. 10, which is first upset along one edge, Fig. 11, to form the hook and is then rolled around the wire spring 0, Figs. 12 and 13, in such a manner as to cause the loop 0 to project through the slot (1.

My improved frame is of simple construction and is at the same time not liable to get out of order by wear.

What I claim is 1. A frame for pocket-books and similar articles having a slotted hollow jaw, a catch or fin ger-piece mounted thereon and arranged to engage the opposite jaw when closed to lock the frame, and a spring actuating said catch and provided with a projection, rigidly connected with said catch so as to vibrate therewith, passing through the slot into the interior of said jaw so as to be concealed thereby, and adapted to impinge against the inner sides of the jaw to limit the vibratory movement of the catch in either direction, substantially as described.

2. A frame for pocket-books and similar articles, having a slotted hollow jaw, which is bulged outwardly in front of the slot, a catch or finger-piece, mounted on said jaw,

arranged to engage the opposite jaw when closed to lock the frame, and a spring actuating said catch and provided with a projection passing through the slot into the interior of said jaw so as to be concealed thereby and adapted to impinge against the inner side of the jaw and of the bulged portion to limit the vibratory movement of the catch in either direction, substantially as described.

LOUIS MESSER. \Vitnesses WILLIAM SCHULZ, 1 v. BRIESEN. 

